Sunday, September 11, 2016

Over three thousand flags filled the fields near the Sandy City building in Sandy, Utah. Each flag was tagged with the name and story of each victim of 9/11. It was an awesome sight. There were flags of other countries representing the many cultures who shared the same fate that day.I love to hear about the heroic stories of sacrifice that came out. They break my heart at the same time they inspire me. Would I have had that kind of courage?I loved the patriotic feelings expressed by all. One of the most horrific events in our history served to unify our country in a way that I hadn't felt before or since. Our people went back to church. We called upon God, as a people, of all religions.

This bronze statue is one of three sculpted by
local artist Stan Watts

This statue is titled "Hope Rising to Lift a Nation". This symbolic act performed by these men feels to me like what Francis Scott Key must've felt when he arose aboard ship in dawn's early light to see our flag had survived--"Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Monday, August 1, 2016

Without a doubt, the fictional world I'd most like to wake up in is the Shire. I thought about Lothlorien because of its beauty and serenity, but the Shire is more like a pastoral version of the real world. I'm totally good with breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, etc, except I may be the one having to make all of the food. Life just seems more laid back and less rushed, and so green. I have always dreamed of a country life. The cool thing about the internet is that I could live in the Shire and work online. Where is the one place you dream of waking up in?

Monday, July 4, 2016

Construction began in 1848. The Cornerstone laid. It was inaugurated and open to the public in 1888. The capstone is made from aluminum and has four faces. On the east face is the inscription is "Laus Deo," "Praise be to God."

This is a monument to the Father of our Country.

Here is his prayer for us:

Almighty God,

We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

As I stood at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial I was overwhelmed by the greatness of this man. Tears welled up in my eyes and I knew I stood on hallowed ground.I hold President Lincoln in the highest esteem along with our founding fathers and feel humbled by their sacrifices.

"The people of the United States are the rightful master of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the constitution."--Abraham Lincoln

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot strengthen prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."--Abraham Lincoln

Monday, June 13, 2016

I believe that a child's love of reading is a gift from his or her parents. I have fond memories of my mother rocking me in her rocking chair and reading to me at bedtime. I loved fairy tales the most, and I asked for the same ones over and over again: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, etc. Then, Dr. Seuss came out with "Read Myself" books. That was cool! Enter the flashlight under the covers. I hated going to bed, so every night I'd pull out my flashlight and read until I fell asleep. In the summertime, my aunt took my cousins and I to the library every week. I read all of the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mysteries I could get my hands on. I tried, desperately to figure out the mystery before Nancy did, or at least by the time all was revealed. The only time in my life that I did not enjoy reading was when I read textbooks because I had to. Funny thing about professors--they think theirs is the only class you are taking, so it shouldn't be a problem reading 300 pages for the next class. How I longed for the day to read just for fun again! Now that I'm there, I get to rock my grandkids in my rocking chair and read to them. Ahh, the simple pleasures. . . What are some of your simple pleasures?

So glad you stopped by!

I love to journal. I love making lists in planners and organizing my day. I love to look back on my day. My goal is to help you discover journaling and planning. It's easier, takes less time and is less expensive than you think. Maybe you are already journaling and just didn't know it!

It dawned on me that today's planner is tomorrow's journal. So journal along with me. The magic is yet to be.

We're going to explore different methods of journaling and help you find that Magic spot. Stop by often, as I continue to build my Library of Printables.

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Favorite Quotes

"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices." --Dumbledore

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." --Dumbledore

Gordon B. Hinckley

Why I write:

"To you women of today, who are old or young, may I suggest to you that you write, that you keep journals, that you express your thoughts on paper. Writing is a great discipline. It is a tremendous education effort. It will assist you in various ways, and you will bless the lives of many--now and in the years to come, as you put on paper some of your experiences and some of your musings."~Gordon B. Hinckley

Thomas S. Monson

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes it's a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I'll try again tomorrow."~Mary Ann Radmacher